The seven-time F1 champion has been negotiating a new deal to keep him at 🧸Mercedes beyond the expiration of his current contract at the end of this year.

♔reported on Saturday night that Hamilton is “closing in” on a two-year contract worth £100m, or £50m per season.

But 24 hours earlier, reported som꧒ething substantially different.

They insist Ham♌ilton wants a five-year deal worth a total of £250m which would take him t♔o his 43rd birthday.

The Mail quoted a source saying: “Lewis wants five years, and if it were 🌳just a one-year extension I don't think he'd accept it.

“They may need to reach a compromise 🍌because, while George (Russell) 🌠has probably made peace with the idea of Lewis being around for a couple of years, he might not accept being in the shadow of his team-mate for the long-term.

“There is always a lure about Ferrari, but Lewis will proba🎃bly think that his only hope of winning his eighth title is by staying where he is.

“Money is not a delaying factor.”

At least both ne🤡wspapers agree that Hamilton will be paid £50m🔯 per season.

Hamilton wil♔l start the F1 Canadian G⛦rand Prix behind Red Bull rival Max Verstappen and Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso.

It would be a spectacular night in Montr🐎eal if Mercedes could somehow end Red Bull’s winning streak.

James Allison, their technical director, has been talking up their ambitions for 2024 when a totally reconsidered car could reestablish Hamilton as F1𒆙’s No 1 force🌜 - but only after he pens a new contract.

Both Hamilton and team principal Toto Wolff insist an agreement is immiജnent yet it has not arrived yet.